Apparatus equipped with removable scanner unit

ABSTRACT

A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhanced manipulatability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus equippedremovably with a scanner unit (also referred to as a scanner-equippedapparatus) in which a base apparatus or base unit such as a personalcomputer, a word processor or the like incorporating therein a printerunit is combined detachably with a scanner unit so that the scanner unititself can also be used independently as a so-called handy scanner. Byway of example, as a typical one of the scanner-equipped apparatus,there may be mentioned a printer/scanner combination apparatus which iscomposed of a printer unit and a scanner unit combined integrally andmutually detachably and which provides advantages that the spacedemanded for the installation of the apparatus can be reduced whencompared with the space required for installing separately the printerunit and the scanner unit and that the printer/scanner combinationapparatus can be manufactured at relatively low costs. Thus, the presentinvention is particularly concerned with a printer/scanner combinationapparatus which includes a printer unit and a scanner unit combineddetachably such that the scanner unit can be detached to be used as thehandy scanner, to thereby enhance the utility of the scanning functionwhile ensuring high manipulatabilty and serviceability for maintenanceof the apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] In recent years, in the field of data processing with thepersonal computer, there arises an increasing tendency of processingimage, graphics and the like data, which is accompanied with rapidspreading of the scanner apparatus for fetching the image data.

[0005] In general, the personal computer system is comprised of a mainbody, a display unit, a keyboard, a printer, etc. Consequently, for theinstallation of the personal computer system, a considerably large spaceis demanded. Such being the circumstances, user who bought a scannerwill often bother his or her head over the place where the scanner is tobe installed. Furthermore, although the scanner is commerciallyavailable at remarkably low price at present, purchase of the scannermeans not a little burden on the consumers.

[0006] Under the circumstances, there have been developed variousscanner-equipped printer apparatuses in which a sensor is mounted on acarriage of the printer, wherein image reading operation is carried outby making use of the sheet feed mechanism of the printer for feeding animage document sheet (i.e., paper or the like sheet having text, apicture or graphics recorded thereon) in efforts to implement thescanner at low costs while mitigating the space demand for theinstallation of the scanner.

[0007] However, in the case of the conventional scanner-equipped printerapparatuses known heretofore, the sheet feeding mechanism is used incommon for both the scanning function and the printing function.Consequently, it has been impossible to use both the functions at thesame time. Further known is such a printer/scanner combination apparatusin which the reader unit provided for realizing the scanning functioncan be detached so as to be used as a so-called handy scanner. However,because the conventional reader unit includes no driving mechanism, thehandy scanner can be operated only manually. In order to allow the handyscanner to operate automatically, it is required to provide a drivingmechanism dedicated for the handy scanner. However, in the conventionalapparatus, the driving mechanism for the handy scanner is left unused inthe state in which the handy scanner is mounted on the printer unit.Thus, in the conventional printer/scanner combination apparatus, theefficiency of hardware utilization is low, which in turn means that thecost-performance of the conventional printer/scanner combinationapparatus is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the light of the state of the art described above, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a scanner-equipped apparatuswhich includes automatic sheet feeders separately for a base unit suchas a printer unit or personal computer or word processor incorporating aprinter unit and a scanner unit, respectively, so that the printingfunction and the scanning or reading function can be made use ofindependently and separately from each other.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide ascanner-equipped apparatus which allows a scanner unit to be detachedfor use as a handy scanner which is capable of operating automaticallywith high efficiency.

[0010] In view of the above and other objects which will become apparentas the description proceeds, there is provided according to a generalaspect of the present invention a scanner-equipped apparatus of such abasic structure in which a base unit such as a printer, personalcomputer, word processor or the like and a scanner unit are disposedsubstantially vertically or in upstanding posture in parallel with eachother, wherein the scanner unit is removably or detachably combined withthe base unit so that the scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner. Asheet transporting path (or document sheet transportation path) for thescanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and thescanner unit when they are combined each other. Besides, the sheetfeeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be usedintact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. Thus, thescanner-equipped apparatus according to the present invention can berealized in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring enhancedmanipulatability.

[0011] Fundamental features of the invention as well as preferred modesfor carrying out the invention will be summarized below.

[0012] According to a general or basic feature of the present invention,the apparatus equipped removably with a scanner or the scanner-equippedapparatus includes a base unit and a scanner unit which can be removablymounted on the base unit. The base unit includes at least a controller,a part of sheet transporting mechanism and a scanner mounting means formounting detachably the scanner unit. The scanner unit includes at leasta reading unit, the remaining part of the sheet transporting mechanismand an engaging means adapted for engaging the scanner mounting meansfor thereby securing the scanner unit onto the base unit.

[0013] In a preferred mode for carrying out the invention, the scannerunit may be so implemented as to be capable of operating as a handyscanner in the state where the scanner unit has been detached from thebase unit.

[0014] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, thebase unit may be a printer unit.

[0015] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, thebase unit may be of an automatic sheet feeding type and include a firstsheet transporting path extending substantially vertically, while thescanner unit may be of an automatic sheet feeding type and include asecond sheet transporting path extending substantially vertically,wherein the first and second sheet transporting paths are so disposed asto extend substantially in parallel and adjacent to each other.

[0016] In a further preferred mode for carrying out the invention, thesheet transporting path or document sheet transporting path for thescanner unit may be defined by confronting surfaces of the base unit andthe scanner unit in the state in which the scanner unit is mounted onthe base unit.

[0017] In a yet further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the scanner-equipped apparatus may be so arranged that a pick roller isdisposed at a location upstream of the second sheet transporting path ofthe scanner unit as viewed in the sheet transporting direction, whilefeed rollers are disposed at locations downstream of the second sheettransportation path for the scanner unit as viewed in the sheettransporting direction.

[0018] In a still further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the pick roller may be made of a material having low hardness, whereinauxiliary rollers which are made of a material having high hardness maybe disposed at sides of the pick roller, respectively, for therebyprotecting the pick roller when the scanner unit is used as the handyscanner.

[0019] In yet further preferred mode for carrying out the invention, theauxiliary rollers may be disposed at locations outside of a readingregion of the scanner unit.

[0020] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, theauxiliary rollers may be disposed in the vicinity of the pick roller,while grooves may be provided in a surface of the base unit facing inopposition to the auxiliary rollers.

[0021] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, amark indicating a reading region may be provided at least on one of afront side portion and a rear side portion of the scanner unit, while amark indicating a reading position may be provided on a lateral sideportion of the scanner unit.

[0022] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, acable for electrically coupling the scanner unit to the base unit may beled out from a location positioned at a lateral surface of the scannerunit.

[0023] In a further preferred mode for carrying out the invention, acable for electrically coupling the base unit to the scanner unit may beled out from a location positioned at a lower portion of a lateralsurface of the base unit.

[0024] In a yet further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the sheet transporting mechanism for the scanner unit may include feedrollers and a driving motor for driving the feed rollers so that thescanner unit can operate as a handy scanner of an automatically runningtype by using the feed rollers.

[0025] In a still further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the base unit may include a printer unit, wherein a sheet transportingmechanism of the printer unit is comprised of a feed roller and adriving motor for driving the feed roller. Further, a sheet transportingmechanism for the scanner unit may be comprised of a sheet transportingroller and an encoder for detecting an amount of rotation of the sheettransporting roller so that the scanner unit can be operated as a manualtype handy scanner.

[0026] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, eitherone of engaging portions of the base unit and the scanner unit may beconstituted by a pivotal shaft for allowing the scanner unit to rotateor swing frontwards, while the other engaging portion may be implementedas a groove or alternatively as a recess for receiving and holdingsnugly the pivotal shaft.

[0027] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the invention, thescanner-equipped apparatus may further include a lock means including aclaw and a projecting member adapted to engage with the claw for therebylocking the scanner unit in the state mounted on the base unit.

[0028] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the scanner-equipped apparatus mentioned above may further be soarranged as to include a rotation limiting stopper means for preventingthe scanner unit from swinging excessively frontwards upon detachment ofthe scanner unit from the base unit.

[0029] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the scanner-equipped apparatus may additionally be so arranged as toinclude a deviation preventing stopper means for preventing the scannerunit from displacing upwardly in the state in which the scanner unit ismounted on the base unit.

[0030] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,the scanner-equipped apparatus described above may be so arranged as toinclude a sheet feeding means formed in a wedge-like shape as viewed ina vertical section by a pair of sheet guides disposed in opposition toeach other so that a space defined between the pair of sheet guidesbecomes gradually narrower toward a sheet withdrawal port, and an offsetmeans provided for at least one of the paired sheet guides for limitingstepwise the moving of the sheet toward the sheets withdrawal port.

[0031] The above and other objects, features and attendant advantages ofthe present invention will more easily be understood by reading thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken, onlyby way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In the course of the description which follows, reference is madeto the drawings, in which:

[0033]FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing generally an outer appearance ofa printer/scanner combination apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows the same in a state inwhich a reader unit is combined with a printer unit so as to be capableof operating as an automatic paper feed type scanner unit, and FIG. 1Bshows the reader unit dismounted from the printer unit so that thereader unit can be used as a handy scanner on a guide plate;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a scanner unit showing adocument sheet feeding mechanism for the reader unit;

[0035]FIG. 3 is a developed view showing a mount/detachment mechanismfor the reader unit;

[0036]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the reader unit;

[0037]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the reader unit;

[0038]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the reader unit;

[0039]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing schematically an opticalmechanism incorporated in the reader unit;

[0040]FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing two kinds of sheettransportation paths are provided separately; and

[0041]FIG. 9 is a schematic suctional view of a document sheet feedingtray in a printer/scanner combination apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Now, the present invention will be described in detail inconjunction with what is presently considered as preferred or typicalembodiments thereof by reference to the drawings. In the followingdescription, like reference characters designate like or correspondingparts throughout the several views. Also in the following description,it is to be understood that such terms as “left”, “right”, “top”,“bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “lateral”, “vertical”, “clockwise”,“counterclockwise” and the like are words of convenience and are not tobe construed as limiting terms. Further, definition of terms used hereinwill be made. With the phrase “paper sheet”, it is contemplated toencompass a blank sheet of paper and forms such as letterhead, labels,envelopes, etc. on which texts, graphics, pictures are to be printed. Onthe other hand, with the phrase “document sheet”, it is intended toencompass such sheets or papers on which text, graphics, picture, etc,are visibly recorded. Of course, photograph and the like are equallycovered by the phrase “document sheet”.

[0043]FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing generally an outer appearance ofa printer/scanner combination apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows the same in the state inwhich a reader unit 1 is combined with a printer unit 3 so as to becapable of operating as an automatic paper feed type scanner unit, andFIG. 1B shows the same in the state in which the reader unit 1 isdismounted from the printer unit 3 so that the reader unit 1 can be usedas a handy scanner on a guide plate 2.

[0044] In FIG. 1A, major portions of a mechanical structure of theprinter unit 3 are located at the back side of the printer/scannercombination apparatus and thus they are invisible in this figure. Theprinter unit of the printer/scanner combination apparatus shown in FIG.1A is implemented in a vertical standing structure, wherein a papersheet is discharged through a printed paper delivery port 5 after havingbeen printed by a printing means (not shown). The reader unit 1 isequipped with a pick roller, a reading window and feed rollers etc., ata rear surface (which forms a bottom surface when the reader unit 1 isused as the handy scanner). The scanner unit is implemented also in asubstantially upstanding structure, wherein a document sheet fed from adocument sheet feeding tray 6 is discharged from a scanned documentsheet delivery port 7 after data (image data) on the document sheet havebeen read out by the reader unit 1. Parenthetically, an L-shapedauxiliary guide 6 a is provided in association with the document sheetfeeding tray 6 for the purpose of supporting a pile of document sheetsof large sizes. The L-shaped auxiliary guide 6 a may be so implementedas to be capable of supporting the document sheets of various sizes witha simplified structure.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 1B, in the state where the reader unit 1 isdetached from the printer unit to be used as the handy scanner, as shownin the figure, the reader unit 1 is electrically coupled to the printerunit 3 by means of a cable (not shown) through which power supply aswell as transmission of control signals and data can be realized betweenthe reader unit 1 and the printer unit 3. The guide plate 2 is formed ofa transparent material such as acrylic resin or the like and ordinarilyadapted to be disposed on a document sheet. The reader unit 1 is sodimensioned as to be snugly fit within a guide frame of the guide plate2. By moving slideably the reader unit 1 manually or automatically overthe guide plate 2, a document sheet disposed beneath the guide plate isscanned, whereby the corresponding image data is read by the reader unit1. A reading position mark 1 a is indicated at a lateral side of thereader unit 1, while reading area marks 1 b are provided at the frontand rear sides, respectively. These marks serve to aid the user inpositioning the reader unit 1 within the reading region of the documentsheet with accuracy in particular when the original reading operation isto be carried out without resorting to the use of the guide plate.

[0046]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the scanner unit showing adocument sheet feeding mechanism of the reader unit 1. A document sheettransportation path for the scanner unit is formed between the printerunit and the reader unit 1 when the reader unit 1 is mounted on theprinter unit. The reader unit 1 is equipped with a pick roller 10 and afeed roller 11 which are rotationally driven by a driving motor 8through the medium of a driving gear train generally denoted byreference numeral 9. From a layer or pile of loose document sheets 12placed on the document sheet feeding tray 6, a document sheet iswithdrawn downwardly on a sheet-by-sheet basis through cooperation ofthe pick roller 10 and the document sheet separating member 13. Thedocument sheet as withdrawn from the pile 12 is detected by a documentsheet detection sensor 14 for making preparation for the data readingoperation, which is followed by detection of the leading edge of thedocument sheet by a leading/trailing edge detecting sensor 15, whereuponimage data reading operation is started. Subsequently, upon detection ofthe trailing edge of the document sheet, the image data readingoperation is terminated. The feed roller 11 and a follower roller 16cooperate to feed the scanned document sheet to a scanned document sheetdelivery guide 17. In this conjunction, it should be mentioned that thescanned document sheet delivery guide 17 may be so implemented as toserve also as a cover for the printed paper delivery port 5 of theprinter unit 3 shown in FIG. 1A.

[0047]FIG. 3 is a developed view showing a mount/removal mechanism forthe reader unit to be used also as the handy scanner. As willhereinafter be described in detail by reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, thereader unit 1 is provided with a pivotal shaft receiving groove 18 a, alocking claw receiving groove 20 a and a stopper groove 21 a,respectively, so that the reader unit 1 can be mounted removably on theprinter unit at both sides of the reader unit 1 with high security.Correspondingly, the printer unit 3 is provided with a pivotal shaft 18b, a locking claw 20 b and a stopper 21 b which are adapted to engagewith the pivotal shaft receiving groove 18 a, the locking claw 20 b andthe stopper groove 21 a of the reader unit, respectively.

[0048] The pivotal shaft receiving groove 18 a has a bottom opened.Thus, the reader unit 1 can easily be dismounted from the printer unit 3by rotating or turning the reader unit 1 in the counterclockwisedirection, as indicated by an arrow {circle over (1)}, from the mountedstate in which the reader unit 1 is inclined in the right-hand direction(indicated by a solid line) to a substantially vertical state (indicatedby broken line) and then lifting upwardly the reader unit 1, asindicated by an arrow {circle over (2)}. Needless to say, the readerunit 1 can be mounted by carrying out the procedures indicated by thearrows {circle over (1)} and {circle over (2)} in the reverse order. Inthe state where the reader unit 1 is mounted on the printer unit 3, thereader unit 1 is prevented from the counterclockwise rotation so long asa force of predetermined magnitude is not applied because of theengagement between the locking claw receiving groove 20 a and thelocking claw 20 b. Besides, in addition to the prevention of thecounterclockwise rotation of the reader unit 1, upward move of thereader unit 1 in the mounted state is prevented owing to the mutualengagement of the stopper groove 21 a and the stopper 21 b. In thismanner, the reader unit 1 can be mounted on the printer unit 3 withsignificantly high security. Moreover, since the rotation stopper 19 ais formed integrally with the pivotal shaft receiving groove 18 a of thereader unit 1 and extends downwardly, the rotation of the reader unit 1can be limited to within a predetermined angular range because therotation stopper 19 a is received by the rotation stopper receivinggroove 19 b provided in association with the printer unit 3 uponcounterclockwise rotation of the reader unit 1. In this manner, thereader unit 1 can positively be protected against accidental removalfrom the printer unit 3 due to inadvertent manipulation of the user.

[0049]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view showing the reader unit 1, FIG. 5 isa top plan view showing the same, and FIG. 6 is a perspective viewthereof. As can be seen in FIG. 4, a pick roller 22 may be mounted onthe bottom surface of the reader unit 1 at a front and center location,while a pair of feed rollers 23 are mounted at right and left positions,respectively, symmetrically relative to the rear center of the readingwindow 24. As can be seen in FIG. 5, each of the pick roller 22 and thefeed rollers 23 is driven rotationally by the driving motor 8 by way ofthe driving gear train 9. Thus, when the reader unit 1 is used as thehandy scanner, operation of the scanner can be performed automaticallyby making use of the rotational driving force or torque generated by theelectric motor mentioned above. At this juncture, it should be mentionedthat the pick roller 22 is usually made of a relatively flexiblematerial of low hardness such as urethane resin. In that case, suchsituation may occur that the pick roller 22 is collapsed under thegravity of the reader unit and can not support the reader unit. In orderto avoid such situation as mentioned above, there is provided anauxiliary rollers 22 a made of a material of high hardness which servesfor supporting the reader unit 1 so that the pick roller 22 does notapply excessive pressure onto the guide plate or the top surface of thedocument sheet. The auxiliary rollers 22 a are disposed outside of thereading region 24 in order to protect the surface of the document sheet12 against injury, as can be seen in FIG. 4. In this conjunction, itshould be mentioned that the width of the auxiliary rollers 22 a may beincreased and mounted in the vicinity of the pick roller 22 so that theauxiliary rollers 22 a can rotate freely coaxially with the pick roller22.

[0050]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an optical mechanism 25incorporated in the reader unit 1. The reading position is defined atthe reading window 24 described hereinbefore by reference to FIG. 4.Light rays reflected from the document sheet to be read out andimpinging into the optical mechanism through the reading window 24reflections a number of times at a plurality of mirrors 25 a to becollected by a lens 25 b and received by a charge coupled device 25 cwhich serves for converting the optical information into an electricsignal.

[0051] At this juncture, it should be mentioned that the printer unitand the scanner unit of the printer/scanner combination apparatusaccording to the instant embodiment of the invention have sheettransportation paths (i.e., the paper sheet transportation path and thedocument sheet transportation path) provided separately for the printerunit and the scanner unit, respectively. Ordinarily, the printer unit isin the state where a pile of paper sheets is set or placed on the papersheet feeding tray, while for the scanner unit, various kinds of thedocument sheets to be scanned or read out are set or placed on thedocument sheet feeding tray 6 every time the reading operation isdesired. In this conjunction, if a transportation path is provided incommon to the paper sheet and the document sheet for the printer unitand the scanner unit, as mentioned hereinbefore, troublesome work willbe required for exchanging the paper sheets and the document sheets,incurring possibility of the paper sheets and the document sheet beingerroneously mixed together. Accordingly, in the case of theprinter/scanner combination apparatus according to the instantembodiment of the invention, the paper sheet transportation path and thedocument sheet transportation path are provided separately for theprinter unit and the scanner unit, respectively. Furthermore, it isdesirable that the document sheets can be placed at the document sheetfeeding tray 6 more easily when compared with the setting of blank papersheets. To this end, the document sheet transportation path for thescanner unit should be disposed at a position near to the front side ofthe apparatus, as viewed in FIG. 1A.

[0052]FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the printer/scannercombination apparatus in which the two sheet transportation paths (i.e.,the paper sheet transportation path and the document sheettransportation path) are provided separately, as mentioned above. In theprinter unit 3, the paper sheet placed as a pile at the paper sheetfeeding tray 4 for the printer is automatically transported on asheet-by-sheet basis along the paper sheet transportation path 30 asindicated by an arrow. After having been printed by a printing head 28,the printed paper sheet is discharged from the printed paper deliveryport 5. On the other hand, in the scanner unit portion having thereading window 24 mounted on the printer unit, the document sheet placedon the document sheet feeding tray 6 is automatically fed into thereader unit 1 on a sheet-by-sheet basis. The document sheet undergonethe reading operation is transported along the document sheettransportation path 31 as indicated by an arrow to be discharged fromthe document sheet withdrawal port 35.

[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the sheet transportation paths for theprinter unit and the scanner unit are provided substantially in parallelwith each other.

[0054] Since the printer unit and the scanner unit of theprinter/scanner combination apparatus according to the instantembodiment of the invention are combined together and disposed at rearand front sides (as viewed in FIG. 1) or at left and right sides,respectively, as viewed in FIG. 8, the document sheet feeding tray 6disposed at the front side (right-hand side as viewed in FIG. 8) maypresent an obstacle to the setting or positioning of a pile of papersheets on the paper sheet feeding tray 4 for the printer. To cope withthis problem, the document sheet feeding tray 6 should preferably be soimplemented as to be pivotally inclined to the front side, as viewed inFIG. 1 (or to the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 8) within apredetermined angular range. It should also be noted that the printercover/document sheet guide means 29 serves not only as the cover for theprinting mechanism of the printer unit but also as the guide for thedocument sheet which has undergone the reading operation by the scannerunit. Consequently, the printer cover/document sheet guide means 29should preferably be so implemented that it can be inclined toward thefront side or removed in order to facilitate the maintenance of theprinting mechanism.

[0055]FIG. 9 is a schematic suctional view of the document sheet feedingtray in the printer/scanner combination apparatus according to theinstant embodiment of the invention. Referring to the figure, a documentsheet guide 32 and an auxiliary document sheet guide member 33 aredisposed in opposition to each other in such orientation that the spacedefined between the document sheet guide 32 and the auxiliary documentsheet guide member 33 becomes narrower gradually toward a document sheetwithdrawal port 35. To say in another way, the vertical section of thespace between the document sheet guide 32 and the auxiliary documentsheet guide member 33 presents substantially a wedge-like shape. Byvirtue of such arrangement, the document sheet is fed automatically intothe printer/scanner combination apparatus essentially on asheet-by-sheet even when a pile of document sheets is placed on thedocument sheet feeding tray 6. However, when the number of the documentsheets contained in the pile is excessively large, there may take placejamming of the document sheets at or in the vicinity of the documentsheet withdrawal port 35 under the weight of the document sheets aspiled. To evade this problem, the document sheet guide 32 shouldpreferably be provided with an offset portion 34 in order to prevent theload of all the document sheets piled from being concentrated to thedocument sheet withdrawal port 35. In this conjunction, it should benoted that a plurality of such offset portions 34 may be providedalthough only one offset portion 34 is shown in FIG. 9. Additionally,such offset portion may be provided in the auxiliary document sheetguide member 33 as well. Parenthetically, the offset portion is impartedwith a lenient inclination so that the document sheet can slidably movedownwardly to the document sheet withdrawal port 35.

[0056] Many features and advantages of the present invention areapparent from the detailed description and thus it is intended by theappended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the systemwhich fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further,since numerous modifications and combinations will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation illustrated and described.

[0057] By way of example, in the printer/scanner combination apparatusdescribed above, the driving motor 8 and the feed rollers 11 areincorporated in the reader unit 1 so that the reader unit 1 can beoperated independently. However, the present invention is neverrestricted to the implementation of the reader unit 1 in the form of thehandy scanner which can be operated automatically. Furthermore, thedriving mechanism may be incorporated in the base unit (printer unit)with the reader unit 1 being constituted by the following roller and theposition detecting encoder. In that case, the reader unit can beimplemented in a miniaturized structure of light weight. When the handyscanner is manipulated on the guide plate, the cable is likely toprovide an obstacle to the manipulation or operation of the handyscanner. Accordingly, the cable interconnecting the reader unit 1 andthe printer unit 3 may preferably be secured to lower side portions ofthe reader unit 1 and the printer unit 3, respectively, while a cableclamp member for securing the cable to the guide plate may be providedin association with the latter.

[0058] Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0059] As will now be apparent from the foregoing description, it ispossible to combine the scanner unit with a base unit such as a printerunit, personal computer, word processor or the like incorporating aprinter unit so that the printer unit and the scanner unit can beoperated independent of each other. Thus, the space required forinstalling the base unit and the scanner unit can be reducedsignificantly. Besides, the scanner unit can be easily detached orremoved from the base unit and used as an automatically or manuallyoperated handy scanner essentially without need for provision of anyadditional means. Thus, the utility efficiency of the printer/scannercombination apparatus can be enhanced remarkably as a whole neverthelessof low manufacturing cost.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple function apparatus, comprising: afirst transporting guide being formed so as to transport a first sheet;a second transporting guide, provided along said first transportingguide, including a straight guide part and a deflecting guide part, saidstraight guide part being formed so as to transport a second sheetstraight and is open at one end, and said deflecting guide part beingconnected to said straight guide part at a side opposite said one end soas to transport a second sheet in a direction different from a directionof transport effected by said straight guide part; a first apparatusprovided in a space between said deflecting guide part and said firsttransporting guide and performing processing for said first sheet in acase where said first sheet is transported along said first transportingguide; and a second apparatus provided at said straight guide part, andperforming processing for said second sheet in a case where said secondsheet is transported along said straight guide part; wherein said firsttransporting guide is provided opposite a direction of deflectioneffected by said deflecting guide part with respect to said straightguide portion, and said deflecting guide part is disposed over saidfirst apparatus.
 2. A multiple function apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said second apparatus is provided opposite of said firsttransporting guide with respect to said straight guide part.
 3. Amultiple function apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction oftransport of said first sheet effected by a portion of said firsttransporting guide which faces to said straight guide part of saidsecond transporting guide and a direction of transport of said secondsheet effected by said straight guide part form an angle smaller than 90degrees with the vertical direction in a case where said multiplefunction apparatus is provided for use.
 4. A multiple function apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a first transporting mechanismtransporting said first sheet by said first transporting guide; a secondtransporting mechanism transporting said second sheet from said straightguide part of said second transporting guide toward said deflectingguide part in a manner that said second sheet is transported insubstantially a same direction as said first sheet; a first sheetdelivery port for delivery of said first sheet from said multiplefunction apparatus, said first sheet delivery port being provided at alocation downstream of said first transporting guide as viewed in adirection of transport of said first sheet, and; a second sheet deliveryport for delivery of said second sheet from said multiple functionapparatus, said second delivery port being provided at a locationdownstream of said deflecting guide part as viewed in a direction oftransport of said second sheet; wherein said first and second sheetdelivery ports are provided at a same side of said multiple functionapparatus.
 5. A multiple function apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said second transporting guide is provided closer to the frontside of said multiple function apparatus than is said first transportingguide, said first apparatus is an image forming apparatus, said secondapparatus is a scanner, a sheet accommodating part is provided at alocation a location upstream of said first transporting guide as viewedin said sheet transporting direction, said sheet accommodating partaccommodates a plurality of sheets to be fed to said first transportingguide.
 6. A multiple function apparatus according to claim 5, whereinsaid deflecting guide part serves as a part of a cover of said multiplefunction apparatus and covers said image forming apparatus.
 7. Amultiple function apparatus according to claim 5, wherein saiddeflecting guide part is movable, so that said image forming apparatuscan be exposed.
 8. A multiple function apparatus according to claim 5,wherein said first apparatus and said second apparatus are provided insuch a positional relation as to overlap each other in the verticaldirection in a case where said multiple function apparatus is in use.